GG mints a medal as Diamond Jubilee plans are unveiled

At the Royal Canadian Mint Tuesday, Gov. Gen. David Johnston and Heritage Minister James Moore unveiled the plans for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The jubilee commemorates 60 years of service to Canada but don’t confuse this with celebrations in the other 15 countries where the Queen is head of state, this is going to be a Canadian celebration said Moore.

“By supporting this most historic and significant anniversary, our government is delivering on its commitment to reinforce our heritage and through active celebration of our institutions that define us as Canadian” said Moore. “For 60 years, Her Majesty has exemplified the true meaning of public service. Today I invite Canadians to start planning for the Diamond Jubilee.”

GG mints a medal

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The government will spend $7.5 million to increase awareness around the jubilee and support celebrations throughout the year. This includes funding for community events, promotional materials, updated educational materials and a Diamond Jubilee week, start on Feb. 6 to coincide with the Queen’s ascension to the throne in 1952 following the death of her father King George VI.

According to the Department of Canadian Heritage, those groups inspired by Moore’s call to start planning today will find that the deadline to apply for the first wave of money (projects running from Jan. 1 – Aug. 30, 2011) has already passed. However a second wave of funding for projects running in the fall of 2012 will be announced in the spring according to the department’s website.

Johnston took the opportunity to praise the role of the Crown in Canada, saying that “in our constitutional monarchy, the Crown plays a fundamental role in safeguarding the rights and freedoms of Canadians and our rule of law.”

Following his remarks, Johnston and Moore moved into the next room where, with the help of a mint employee, Johnston struck one of the first Diamond Jubilee medals. Those medals will be distributed to 60,000 Canadians who “have made a significant contribution to a particular province, territory, region or community within Canada, or an achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.” Similar Canadian medals were minted for the Queen’s golden (50 year) and silver (25 year) jubilees as well as for her coronation in 1953.

The last and only Canadian monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee was Queen Victoria back in 1897 only 30 years after Confederation. Victoria is the one who started the practice of distributing medals and recipients from her Diamond Jubilee minting included Sir Wilfred Laurier.

In addition to the “grassroots” celebrations it’s funding, the government will be organizing several events throughout the jubilee year including an extra special Canada Day according to Moore who wouldn’t go into greater detail.

In the press conference following the photo-op, Minister Moore indicated that the money for the jubilee is not new money but rather funding that was already allocated for the celebration of such milestones. He also reassured that funding would be distributed with an eye to regional balance.

The Jubilee celebrations are just one of several Canadian milestones in 2012 including the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, the 200th anniversary of the Selkirk Settlement and the 100th anniversary of the Grey Cup.